News & Press

A virus that can sicken or kill young Caribbean spiny lobsters can be detected with greater sensitivity — and its abundance can be measured to investigate disease severity and spread — thanks to a new diagnostic test described in a peer-reviewed journal article published recently in Diseases of Aquatic Organisms.

Mote Marine Laboratory is pleased to welcome Dr. Cynthia Heil as Director of its new Red Tide Institute, which focuses on studying and testing Florida red tide mitigation and control technologies to improve quality of life for coastal communities affected by these challenging harmful algal blooms (HABs).

Mote Marine Laboratory and partners will restore 70,000 coral “seeds” across 130 acres of depleted Florida reefs over three years — prioritizing coral genetic varieties resilient to disease and climate change impacts — thanks to a grant of nearly $1.5 million announced today, Nov. 9, by the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and partners.

When a fishery declines, can you release fish to aid its recovery – without unintended consequences? Mote Senior Scientist Dr. Ken Leber investigates how to raise and release fishes in ecologically sound ways, a process known as responsible stock enhancement and codified by Leber and colleagues. Learn how stock enhancement took hold in the U.S., why it became a research focus at Mote, how Leber has advanced responsible practices around the globe, and what Florida sportfish was the favorite of William R. Mote, the benefactor and namesake of Mote Marine Laboratory.

Sea turtles laid a near-record number of nests during their 2018 nesting season on Longboat Key through Venice, Florida, report Mote Marine Laboratory scientists who have monitored this stretch of nesting beaches for 37 years.